Yaldi second Group winner in two weeks

A gallant Yaldi has credited sire Ardrossan with another stakes winner following his victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Guines at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Trained by Andrew Forsman, the three-year-old is now the top performer for the young Waikato Stud resident who has also produced black-type success stories Beau Dazzler, Saltcoats, Loch Katrine and Codigo.

Yaldi tucked in behind the pace and rounded off strongly for rider Michael McNab to dead-heat in the age-group feature but took the race outright following a successful protest on the grounds of interference.

“I was a bit worried mid-race as it wasn’t unfolding as we’d hoped, they were only going steadily and he was quite keen with the blinkers on for the first time,” Forsman said.

“I was really happy to see him knuckle down off the slow speed like he did.

“The blinkers are something we’ve toyed with for a little while, he’s trialled with them on before and looks around a lot.

“He’s still very raw and immature and he’s still learning, so I just thought he needed to focus a bit more.”

Yaldi is eligible for both the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO and the $3.5 million The NZB Kiwi, the latter is a race Forsman holds a slot for.

“The main target for this preparation has been the Karaka mile, and obviously The Kiwi and races like that are on his radar,” he said.

“How we get to Karaka I’m not so sure. The Levin Classic is an option and a trip away may be a good thing for a horse like him, he’s learning and that experience can make a horse like him. We’ll see what comes of the next week or so and figure it out. 

“The 1500 metres of the Kiwi at Ellerslie is tailor-made for him, he doesn’t need to do too much more and you’d think with a bigger field with hopefully a more genuine tempo, it should suit him as well.”

Yaldi was bred by Brown Thoroughbreds and was purchased out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $50,000 by agent Bruce Perry.

A son of the Per Incanto mare Luroel, Yaldi has now won two of his five starts and also placed in last season’s Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington.